The barge (there is also one eerily similar which recently popped up in Portland, Maine) was rumored to be anything from a floating data center (which Google holds a patent on) to a retail store. Could this mean that a IS714 student in five years could be sitting at the retail table and focusing on Google? Google's official statement read:
"Google Barge ... A floating data center? A wild party boat? A barge housing the last remaining dinosaur? Sadly, none of the above," says Google in a statement. "Although it's still early days and things may change, we're exploring using the barge as an interactive space where people can learn about new technology."
Given that this may also be the only time Google and the U.S. Coast Guard are mentioned in the same breath, I must also highlight that Coast Guard inspectors (Coast Guard is the lead federal agency that inspects all U.S. flagged vessels including barges) were required to sign an NDA following their inspection of the barge. Semper Paratus!
This is intriguing. Why does it make sense for Google to have a "store for Glass" on the water? Is barge space cheaper than retail space and/or more accessible in city centers? Is the Coast Guard often asked to sign NDAs before inspection? Seems like there must be other companies that house trade secrets on the water, albeit probably different types of companies than Google.
ReplyDelete"That's weird, it's a Google project that no one in the outside world knows what it is...I guess what they're saying is it's Google Plus!" -John Stewart
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCJotPUO57o